Seven candidates out of 19 contesting by-elections for two assembly seats scheduled for tomorrow, have criminal cases pending against them with five of them facing serious charges, a study released by Association for Democratic Reforms said today. 

"Out of seven candidates who have declared criminal cases, five have declared serious criminal cases. These cases include charges of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons and kidnapping or abducting with intent to wrongfully confine person," an ADR statement stated. 

On the basis of analysis of self-sworn affidavits of all 19 candidates, contesting assembly constituencies from Bandra (East) and Tasgaon in Sangli district,Congress candidate Narayan Rane is the richest who has shown more than Rs 72 crore as his assets, the ADR study stated. 

According to its findings, Rane faces one case with serious charges against him. 

Another high profile candidate from Tasgaon seat Suman Patil, wife of the late R R Patil, has assets worth Rs 1.12 crore, it said. 

The ADR study found that average assets per candidate contesting this by-election is Rs 5.62 crore.